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D.C. United heads to the west coast for the only time during the 2021 regular season, as they face the San Jose Earthquakes in what may be the latest kickoff of a game in team history. It’s also a game that could be dramatic: United’s pressure and willingness to create physical duels will be met by Matias Almeyda’s notorious man-marking system in a game that has all the signs of being a battle.
Throw in some traditional #MLSAfterDark vibes, and we might be in for a deeply weird match tonight.
Key player: Julian Gressel
Caitlin Buckley / Black and Red United
D.C. United is on the road for the first time under Hernán Losada, with the Black-and-Red heading north to take on the New England Revolution. The Revs, who went to the Eastern Conference Final last year, are unbeaten in six games against United and have aspirations to be a serious contender in MLS this year. For a short-handed United, this one is shaping up to be a stern test.
Key player: Chris Seitz
United’s still learning a new system, they’re a pressing team now, and they’re missing a lot of projected starters. On the road against a dangerous Revolution side, and with Bruce Arena taking some big tactical risks of his own to get his top attackers on the ball close to goal, it stands to reason that this could be a very open, end-to-end 90 minutes.
The building is currently on a “flexible licence” to SDI (Propco 73), trading as House of Fraser. Directors of SDI (Propco 73) include Mike Ashley, the Sports Direct boss who bought House of Fraser’s assets when the department store chain went into administration in August 2018. “The property is let on flexible terms offering the purchaser an exciting opportunity to reposition the property for a variety of uses including residential, student accommodation, hotel, retail and leisure uses, subject to planning,” the agents say. Bournemouth’s House of Fraser faced closure in 2018, when previous owners put the branch on a list of 31 to be axed in a bid to save the business. But the plan changed after the company went into administration and was bought by Mr Ashley.
Fantasy Focus: Leal Deal
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Before I get into the week in MLS Fantasy, I want to make a quick note about the head-to-head league. When I set the league up, I arbitrarily set the team number at 100, thinking it was the upward limit. What I didn’t realize until Saturday is that the league, with 76 teams at the time, did not start because it didn’t meet the set team number. So I set the team number to 76 and then set it to start in round 2, so everyone basically gets a round 1 bye. All of the other settings, including the playoffs, will happen as planned. I’m sorry for the error. We’ll get going at the weekend.
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D.C. United is looking to start the Hernán Losada era off with a win today as they kick off the 2021 MLS season against NYCFC. After an offseason full of changes to the coaching staff, front office, and roster, United is hoping to prove that they’re a more formidable side than they’ve been in the last couple of seasons.
The first step on that path sees New York City FC come to the District. The Pigeons have been one of the most consistently successful teams in the Eastern Conference, and though there are signs that they may be in slight decline this year, they still have some elite MLS players and promising youngsters driving them forward.